January 2023 Big Trip

Mollyb60

When I turned 30 I made a promise to myself that I'd do a big splash out holiday for my 40th. The plan for the past 5ish years has been to do a 3/4 week trip around New Zealand. Maybe in a campervan, maybe just renting a car. I hadn't pinned that down yet. I'm turning 40 next January and was just looking into New Zealand when I see that they're not fully opening their boarders till at least October this year (fcuk you Covid). I wouldn't want to book anything until I was sure that they were fully open because with Covid I'm sure travel insurance would be a nightmare and probably wouldn't cover late cancellations if they close back up. But if I leave it till October to book anything surely everything in NZ will be super expensive coz it will have been closed to tourists for almost 3 years at that point and everyone will want to visit there. So my options are:

1. hold off till October and book NZ then and hope that everything isn't ridiculously expensive.
2. book something else for my 40th and hold off on the NZ plans for a year or 2. If I do this one, my next dillemma is where do I go instead?

I'm not one for sitting on a beach sunning myself. Equally I'm not into 100% all action holidays with sky diving and white water rafting etc. I like sight seeing, history and architecture, walking, museums, food and wine. I'd rather the weather be warm enough so probably southern hemisphere. I considered Mexico but I'm not too enamoured with the security situation there. Same with Cambodia and Egypt. Not hugely interested in Africa either. Budget probably around 3k.

So I'm stumped. Do I hold my breath and hope NZ is open and not extortionate? Or do I go somewhere else - and if so - where do I go?

MAULBROOK

I like sight seeing, history and architecture, walking, museums, food and wine

3 week trip to Italy

Mollyb60

5-13 degrees average in central Italy in January. So I don't think that's an option. Also I've been to Rome, Florence and Naples before so I've covered the main spots.

elizunia87

Hi. If NZ is really your dream go for it but i would wait with buying a ticket. I used to travel a lot in my 20s and I love Bali, Cuba ( january will be great weather), Jamaica, Zanzibar. Best of luck on your trip

Blud

Argentina. Go to Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Bariloche

Mollyb60

I think I've decided to hold off on NZ till 2024. January in Bali and Zanzibar seems to be the wet season. I have enough rain here so that discounts them. On the other hand, Argentina might be too hot for me in January. Yes I'm aware that I'm a picky btch.

Cuba could be a good call but I'm not super interested in it. Is there actually stuff to do in Jamaica that isn't hanging out on a beach?

Rethinking Mexico now. If we go with a tour group it'd be safer right? Am I mental spending 5k on a trip to mexico? It's the only other place I've considered that's gotten me excited.

dory

Mexico is safe enough if you stick to the touristy spots. Fly into Cancun and go down the coast, avoid the capitals in Central America if you're nervous. The best thing I did in Central America was probably a boat trip in Belize with Raggamuffin Tours. I will probably look into doing it again for my 40th. This was in 2012 so it might be different / terrible now, but the food there was incredible. Lots of shrimp curry and lobster etc. NZ would be amazing but it sounds like a lot of hassle in Covid times. Argentina isn't that hot. I was there in January and I'm wearing a hat in many photos. We were down south a bit though.